Three Nuclear Close Calls

Soviet submarine B-59, forced to the surface by U.S. Naval forces in the Caribbean near Cuba. U.S. National Archives, Still Pictures Branch, Record Group 428, Item 428-N-711200.
Navy photographer/public domain

There have been many moments in history when the world came perilously close to a full-scale nuclear war, due to false alarms or miscommunication. One such moment is the only known time that a head of state has activated their nuclear briefcase.

Our listener mail is from Julie and touches on Acadian history and its parallels to Jamaica's Maroon Wars.

Dobbs, Michael. "The Real Story of the 'Football' That Follows the President Everywhere." Smithsonian Magazine. 10/2014. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/real-story-football-follows-president-everywhere-180952779